Parsing xml in NSXMLParser

Question

I have read many examples of how to get text out of xml files, but just don't get how to. Here is a sample xml file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<questions>
    <set>
        <question>Question</question>
        <answer>Answer</answer>
    </set>
</questions>

Using -(void)parser:(NSXMLParser *)parser didStartElement:(NSString *)elementName namespaceURI:(NSString *)namespaceURI, what's the easiest way to get the values Question and Answer? I already have my parser delegate hooked up and all that blah.

Answer 1

For implementing NSXMLParser you need to implement delegate method of it.

First of all initiate NSXMLParser in this manner.

- (void)viewDidLoad {

    [super viewDidLoad];

    rssOutputData = [[NSMutableArray alloc]init];

    //declare the object of allocated variable
    NSData *xmlData=[[NSData alloc]initWithContentsOfURL:[NSURL URLWithString:@""]];// URL that given to parse.

    //allocate memory for parser as well as 
    xmlParserObject =[[NSXMLParser alloc]initWithData:xmlData];
    [xmlParserObject setDelegate:self];

    //asking the xmlparser object to beggin with its parsing
    [xmlParserObject parse];

    //releasing the object of NSData as a part of memory management
    [xmlData release];

}
//-------------------------------------------------------------


-(void)parser:(NSXMLParser *)parser didStartElement:(NSString *)elementName namespaceURI:(NSString *) namespaceURI qualifiedName:(NSString *)qName
   attributes: (NSDictionary *)attributeDict
{
    if( [elementName isEqualToString:@"question"])
    {

         strquestion = [[NSMutableString alloc] init];

    }
}


//-------------------------------------------------------------


-(void)parser:(NSXMLParser *)parser foundCharacters:(NSString *)string
{
       // init the ad hoc string with the value     
     currentElementValue = [[NSMutableString alloc] initWithString:string];
  } else {
     // append value to the ad hoc string    
    [currentElementValue appendString:string];
  }
  NSLog(@"Processing value for : %@", string);
}


//-------------------------------------------------------------


-(void)parser:(NSXMLParser *)parser didEndElement:(NSString *)elementName namespaceURI:(NSString *)namespaceURI qualifiedName:(NSString *)qName
{
    if( [elementName isEqualToString:@"question"])
    {
        [strquestion setString:elementName];
    }

 [currentElementValue release];
  currentElementValue = nil;
}

The above delegate method is sent by a parser object to its delegate when it encounters an end of specific element. In this method didEndElement you will get value of question.